New / Expectant Parents

Annapolis Pediatrics offers sessions for expectant parents to meet one of our pediatricians or pediatric nurse practitioners in a group setting. The provider will explain the philosophy of our practice, as well as answer any questions that you might have. The sessions are held in the evening in several of our locations. Space is limited, so we recommend that you call us at least two months before your due date if you would like to attend one of these sessions. Contact us for session dates, times and more information.

Frequently Asked Questions:

No. If your baby is being delivered at Anne Arundel Medical Center, let them know that you have chosen Annapolis Pediatrics as your child’s pediatric office. AAMC will call our office when the baby is born and one of our providers will examine your baby at the hospital each day. The provider will let you know when you need to schedule your baby’s first appointment with our office. If possible, do not wait until the day your child needs to be seen to schedule the appointment. We are able to offer you more flexibility in times and office locations if we can schedule your appointment a day or two in advance.

If you are delivering at a hospital other than AAMC, the in-house pediatrician will examine the baby at the hospital each day. Call us as soon as you know when the baby will be discharged so that we may schedule a convenient time and location for your child’s first appointment.

If you are delivering at a birthing center, call us as soon as possible after the baby has been delivered. Your child must be seen in our office within the first 24 hours after birth, as there is no pediatrician to examine your child at the birthing center.

We recommend Your Child’s Health by Barton D. Schmitt, MD, FAAP. Much of the advice you receive if you call one of our triage nurses comes from protocols set up by Dr. Schmitt, as well as from this book. Your Child’s Health is available for sale in our office or you can purchase a copy at Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com.

Another excellent source of information that we recommend for new parents is the website www.healthychildren.org. This website was created by the American Academy of Pediatrics and offers valuable information regarding the care and feeding of your child, immunizations, safety, and numerous other topics.

A rectal temperature is the most accurate measure of a baby’s true temperature and the method recommended by our pediatricians. A reading of 98.6°F is just the average rectal temperature. A temperature can normally change from 96.8°F in the morning to a high of 100.3°F in the late afternoon. A rectal temperature >100.4°F is considered a fever. To take a rectal temperature, gently insert a rectal thermometer ¼ to ½ inch (inserting until the silver tip disappears is about ½ inch). Never try to force the thermometer past any resistance.

Nasal noises are usually caused by dried mucus in the nose, not by a cold. A blocked or stuffy nose can interfere with feeding because your baby can’t breathe when the mouth is also closed off with feeding. Because newborns are obligate nasal breathers for 3-6 months (so they can breathe while nursing), they sometimes need help opening the nasal passages. Throat noise is caused by air passing through normal saliva or refluxed milk. These gurgling noises are especially likely to build up during sleep. Eventually, the newborn learns to swallow more frequently.

Your baby can be taken outdoors at any age; just dress for the weather. Dress him or her with as many layers of clothing as you would wear for the outdoor temperature. The most common mistake is overdressing babies in the summer. In the winter, babies should wear a hat because they often don’t have much hair to protect against heat loss. Crowds and camping should be avoided during the first month of life. Also try to avoid close contact with sick people during the first year of life.

Never fly with a newborn during the first 7 days of life. If flying is essential, it is safe to fly after 7 days, however, because of the exposure to infections aboard aircraft, it is preferable not to fly before 2 or 3 months of age. If the newborn is not healthy, do not fly until you have medical clearance from your child’s doctor. Avoid mountain travel above 8,000 feet for the first month of life. (Brief drives over higher mountain passes are safe.)